Dynamic Solutions for Change Attachment Focused Family Therapy

Dynamic Solutions for Change Attachment Focused Family Therapy Approaches to Supporting Children Experiencing Developmental Trauma & Learning Disabilities Mikenda Plant DAFT Conference May 2014 www. chrysalisassociates. org

Dynamic Solutions for Change Aims • To think about how developmental trauma, separation and loss can impact long term on the learning abilities of children in care and children who have been adopted. • To think about what ‘executive functioning’ means and how Attachment Focussed Family Therapy can be used to help support the development of children’s learning abilities. • To explore how parents and carers can be supported therapeutically to facilitate effective learning environments for their children. www. chrysalisassociates. org

Dynamic Solutions for Change Outline • Introductory exercise • Theory • Videos - adoptive parents' experience of therapeutic parenting sessions - use of Theraplay based work in family sessions - adoptive parents' experiences of using social story ideas in family sessions • Questions and feedback www. chrysalisassociates. org

Dynamic Solutions for Change What Is Developmental Trauma? • Physical and emotional responses of a child to life threatening events • To self or significant other • Loss of coping capacity • Feelings of terror, powerlessness, and out-of-control physiological arousal • Complex trauma – multiple traumatic events www. chrysalisassociates. org

Dynamic Solutions for Change Impact of Developmental Trauma • • Interpersonal interactions Self esteem Impulse control Emotion Conscience development Cognitive problems Developmental problems www. chrysalisassociates. org

Dynamic Solutions for Change Trauma and the Brain www. chrysalisassociates. org

Dynamic Solutions for Change Impact of Trauma on the Developing Brain • • Brain stem - over-developed ‘flight or fright’ response Pre-frontal cortex - under developed executive functioning www. chrysalisassociates. org

Dynamic Solutions for Change Behaviour Rating of Executive Functioning (BRIEF) • • Behaviour inhibition The ability to shift Emotional control To initiate tasks Working memory Plan Organise oneself and one’s materials Self-monitor www. chrysalisassociates. org

Dynamic Solutions for Change Shame Versus Guilt Shame • Global self • Overwhelming unbearable pain • Want to curl up and die/disappear • Reinforces view that `I’m rubbish. I never get anything right. Everyone hates me’ • Leads to denial/ rage/blaming others, `downward spiral’ • Reinforced by BLAME and PUNISHMENT • Specific behaviour • Sharp discomfort • Want to `undo’ the specific behaviour • Sense of having `let myself down’ or `let others down’ • Leads to desire to confess, apologise, repair, not do it again • Reinforced by EMPATHY www. chrysalisassociates. org

Dynamic Solutions for Change How Shame paralyses Executive Function Poor Executive Function Child Fails to complete task Brain stem takes over. Cortex deactivated. Shame triggers Fight, Flight, Freeze, Giggle Child feels shame: “I’m a stupid kid and nobody likes me” www. chrysalisassociates. org Adult responds with criticism, disappointment, anger

Dynamic Solutions for Change Attachment Focused Family Therapy • Combination of therapeutic approaches: – – – Attachment Focused Family Theraplay based work Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) www. chrysalisassociates. org

Dynamic Solutions for Change Theraplay Key elements: • Interactive & Relationship Based • Direct Here and Now Experience • Guided by the Adult • Responsive, Attuned, Empathic & Reflective • Preverbal/Social/Right Brain Level • Multi-sensory including Touch • Playful www. chrysalisassociates. org

Dynamic Solutions for Change Role of Therapist • Active • Intersubjective therapeutic stance • Co-creation of meaning & coregulation of affect www. chrysalisassociates. org

Dynamic Solutions for Change www. chrysalisassociates. org

Dynamic Solutions for Change www. chrysalisassociates. org